CHAUTAUQUA LAKE ICE PICK
Can You Guess the Exact Day and Time the Pick Will Fall In The Icy Waters of Chautauqua Lake?
WHAT IS THE CHAUTAUQUA LAKE ICE PICK?
Based on a wildly successful Alaskan tradition, the Chautauqua Lake Ice Pick is a winter FUNdraiser to support the Chautauqua Lake Association’s essential lake management programs.
This year’s contest kicked off on Friday, February 7, when the CLA’s bright orange Ice Pick is placed on the ice at the Lawson Center in Bemus Point, NY.
Submit your guess (or guesses) as to when the pick will fall through the ice! Multiple guesses are encouraged to increase your odds of winning!
As the spring thaw approaches, you can follow the action with the live video feed at https://www.twitch.tv/claicepick to see if the Ice Pick is still standing or has fallen into the icy waters!
Participants with the closest guess will win cash prizes:
- The Grand Prize Winner will receive $250!
- The next five closest guesses will each win $50!
The Chautauqua Lake Association will use the remaining funds for our summer in-lake maintenance and near-shore cleanup programs.
Prefer to pay by check? A paper form can be downloaded and mailed in with a check by clicking here.
LIVE VIDEO OF THE CHAUTAUQUA LAKE ICE PICK
The History of the Chautauqua Lake Ice Pick
Introduced to Chautauqua Lake in 2011, the Chautauqua Lake Ice Pick consists of four stabilizer feet, a center pole and a clock timer. Once the lake freezes over, it is placed on the ice in Bemus Bay.
The fundraiser, based on a wildly successful Alaskan tradition, was adapted for Chautauqua Lake by event originator Peter Sullivan.
CONTEST RULES
- The contest will begin as soon as the time clock is engaged. Guesses will be accepted until Saturday, March 22, 2025. The CLA Fundraising Committee reserves the right to extend or cut off guessing based on ice conditions. In the case thatextreme weather is forecasted, the committee reserves the right to extend guessing through Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
- A $5 donation per guess is required and can be made via credit card or by sending a check with paper entry form to the CLA at 429 E. Terrace Ave., Lakewood, NY.
- To win, you must guess the date and time to the closest second when the ice pick will fall through the ice.
- The Chautauqua Lake Ice Pick was built with four stabilizer feet and a center pole. The ice pick will be declared sunken only when two of its four stabilizing legs are submerged in the water.
- In the event the ice pick falls, the video recording will be reviewed by the Fundraising Committee and the exact time will be determined.
- In the event of a tie, the prize will be split between the winners. Each participant can only win one prize. If a participant has multiple guesses that are winners, the next closest guess to the exact date/time will be used.
For a list of past winners, click here.
Even if you’re not participating in the contest, donations to the CLA are always appreciated and will help support our programs!
The Chautauqua Lake Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to in-lake maintenance and management activities to protect and improve the quality of Chautauqua Lake. The CLA’s primary goal is to ensure the natural beauty, safety and utility of the lake as a recreational resource.